Other conditions decisions — 2015

The Board denied service connection for cardiac and respiratory disabilities, attributing them to known clinical diagnoses rather than undiagnosed illnesses. The Veteran's current conditions are deemed unrelated to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected left foot fracture and whether his reported left leg and foot numbness are at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by this condition. The issue of service connection for left leg and foot numbness secondary to the service-connected left foot fracture will also be addressed.

The Board denied a waiver of the overpayment of nonservice-connected disability pension benefits, finding that recovery was not against equity and good conscience.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a hearing before the Board.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for shingles of the lower extremities was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability, and the single episode of shingles in service did not result in any residuals.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current skin condition, diagnosed as pruritus, is related to his active service and has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to an initial compensable rating for left hand injury residuals was denied as the current condition does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board has ordered additional development regarding the Veteran's claims for service connection and compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for dumping syndrome. The case is being returned to the RO for further action.

The Veteran's surviving spouse is seeking an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for adenocarcinoma of the right lung, based on substitution. The case has been remanded due to a hearing request.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain records related to the Veteran's service at Udorn RTAFB and temporary assignments within the Republic of Vietnam, specifically regarding herbicide exposure. The appellant seeks service connection for the cause of her husband's death due to lung cancer, which she alleges was caused by herbicide exposure.

The Veteran is entitled to payment or reimbursement for the cost of medical treatment provided at Dublin Methodist Hospital on March 14, 2013 due to her severe abdominal pain and constipation. The Board found that seeking non-VA medical attention was reasonable given the availability of VA facilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records, examinations, and development of the record.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease of the right fifth proximal interphalangeal joint status post fracture is currently rated at 10 percent, and his claim for an earlier effective date has been granted. The claims for PTSD, soft tissue injury, pelvic pain, neck injury, lumbar spine disability, muscle spasms, and cardiomyopathy have all been denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a dental condition resulting from missing teeth during military service has been denied as there is no evidence of a current compensable dental disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for overpayment of compensation benefits and for an earlier effective date for additional compensation on account of a dependent spouse, B, and dependent stepchildren, A and T.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and a need for further examination regarding the Veteran's respiratory symptoms.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Reiter's syndrome or reactive arthritis is not related to his service-connected seizure disorder and thus, denied service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for dose estimates and referral to the Under Secretary for Benefits regarding the Veteran's exposure to ionizing radiation during service, which may be related to his arthritis.

The Board found that the reduction in the rating for the Veteran's Ewing's sarcoma from 100 percent to 0 percent, effective January 1, 2012 was proper based on evidence showing remission of the condition and no impact on work capacity.

The Veteran's claims for evaluations of his mood disorder, right knee strain, and left knee meniscus tear prior to the specified dates were denied. The evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.